Medical Keywords - Everything you need to know about health.

How to Treat an Alcohol Hangover

A simple search online or an interview of friends and you will find that there are plenty of hangover treatments, remedies, and preventions out there. Everyone claims that his or her idea will prevent the hangover from happening, shorten the amount of time that you have to suffer, or at least make sure that they symptoms are not as severe as before. Unfortunately, many of these remedies are founded in myth, and very few have been scientifically tested for effectiveness. So, the best way to treat an alcohol hangover is to avoid getting one in the first place. Otherwise, you just have to wait it out - most of the symptoms will be gone before the day is out.

What is the best way to do this? Watch how much, and how strong, of alcohol that you drink. If you drink in small amounts, generally not enough to get "buzzed" or drunk, the risk of having a hangover is rather minimal. If you do drink enough to become intoxicated, keeping your drinking to a minimum will also reduce your chances of having a hangover. Lower alcoholic beverages, when compared to hard liquor, are also less likely to cause a hangover.

The type of alcohol that you drink can also play a role in whether or not you get a hangover. Some alcohols, like vodka and gin, have fewer congeners than their darker cousins, such as brandy and whiskey. Red wine is commonly known to cause hangovers, particularly the inexpensive brands or those that are from a bad harvest. If you choose to drink the harder alcohols, choose to "top shelf" your liquor choices - these are often more refined, and have fewer congeners than the same type of liquor in a cheaper brand.

If you get a hangover, there are some treatments that you can try to reduce the intensity of your symptoms. One common remedy is to try eating foods that are high in fructose, such as fruits and fruit juices. This easily digested sugar can help bring your blood sugar back to normal, while many fruits will also contain Vitamin C and potassium - to essential nutrients that are lost through dehydration. Starting your day out with bland, complex carbohydrates can also be helpful - toast and crackers are generally well tolerated even when nauseous, and can also help blood sugar levels.

If you were up late drinking the night before, you may also be suffering from sleep deprivation as well as the affects of the alcohol. Sleeping in the next morning, or finding time to take a nap, may be all you need to start feeling better.

Many over the counter medications can help reduce the intensity of your hangover symptoms. For instance, you can try antacids to relieve your nausea and stomach pains. Pain killers can help with the headache and other aches and pains, but should be avoided if you are feeling nauseous or have stomach pains, as they can further irritate the stomach. Be sure to read labels, because some painkillers are not recommended for use if there is alcohol in your system, since they can increase the load on your liver and cause further problems.

Caffeine can help with some of your symptoms and give you a boost of energy. However, it is also a diuretic, and can make hangover symptoms worse. So keep caffeine intake to a minimum, and be sure to drink plenty of other fluids while you are recovering.